Fermanagh Township, Juniata Co PA
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Fermanagh Township


History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
Edited by F. Ellis and A. N. Hungerford.
Published in Philadelphia by Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886
Pages 808-832

CHAPTER XV.
FERMANAGH TOWNSHIP



The date of organization of this township is not known. It was not erected in October, 1754, at the time of the formation of the first townships “tother side of the N. Mountain.” That it was erected soon after the above-mentioned date is shown by a deed dated April 20, 1755, given by Captain James Patterson to William Armstrong. The deed mentioned conveyed one hundred and fifty-five acres of land situated in Fermanagh township, near Juniata River. The original territory of Fermanagh township embraced all the new purchase lying north of the Juniata River. This township also included that part of Mifflin County lying south of the river to the Black Log Mountain, and was part of what is now Snyder County, embracing Selinsgrove, part of Centre and Huntingdon Counties. This fact is determined by the names of persons who were known to be residents of those parts, as will be shown here-after.

The Indian troubles of 1756 interfered with all business in the settlements north of the mountain until 1762. At the March term of court in that year William White was appointed constable for this township. He resided a short distance above the village of Mexico, and was killed by the Indians on the 10th of July, 1763. No mention of this township organization is found in the court records, but on and after 1762 it was officially recognized. In 1763, the following-named persons were appointed officers of Fermanagh: Arthur Moody, constable; John Nicholson and Samuel Mitchell, supervisors; Andrew McKeener and George Hays, overseers of the poor; Alexander Lafferty and James Gallagher, viewers of ferries; and George Hays, collector.

TAXABLES OF 1763.—In this year the first assessment of the township was taken, a copy of which is here given,--

  Acres
Armstrong, George, Col 200
Armstrong, William 200
Armstrong, John 200
Armstrong, Alexander 100
Brightroch, Robert 100
Bringham, Alexander 200
Brown, Charles 300
Buchanan, William 200
Burdge, Moses 100
Curran, William 300
Calhooen, Robert, free 200
Chambers, Thomas 100
Crampton, James 100
Duglis, Andrew 200
English, James 50
Foughts, John 600
Greenwood, Joseph 500
Gallagher, James 100
Gabriel, George 200
Guthrey, Robert 200
Henderson, William 200
Huff, John 50
Hunter, Samuel 300
Hayes, George 100
Long, Andrew 100
Laferty, Alexander 200
McKee, Thomas 400
McCalester, Hugh, Jr. 100
McBride, John 100
McLevy, William 100
McClure, Andrew 200
McCormick, Hugh 400
Mitchell, Samuel 100
Montgomery, John 100
Man, Stufell 100
Nickson, John 100
Nickle, William 100
Neilson, Robert 160
Patterson, James 400
Reed, Azariah, Sr. 100
Reed, Azariah, Jr. 100
Reed, John 100
Rodman, William 300
Sturgeon, John 100
Suagert, Frederick 100
Stewart, William 300
Stanford, Jacob 300
Storns, Jean, Widow 400
Wert, Francis, Esq. 400
White, William 200

There were seven thousand three hundred and sixty acres warranted and four hundred acres patented, which last was to James Patterson, who resided at the site of the town of Mexico. The location of some of these lands will be interesting,--The Armstrongs, at and near McAlisterville; William Buchanan, near Jericho; James Crampton, below Mexico; William Curran, near Cedar Spring; Andrew Douglas, near Jericho; john Foughts (Pfoutz) and Joseph Greenwood, in Pfoutz Valley and below in Perry County; George Gabriel resided on the site of Selinsgrove, Snyder County; Samuel Hunter then owned the site of Thompsonville, in Juniata County, and Marysville, Perry County; Alexander Lafferty, the site of Mifflintown; Thomas McKee owned land on both sides of the mouth of Mahantango Creek; Hugh McCalester, Jr., where Washington McAlester now lives; Hugh McCormick, where Enoch Horning now resides; Samuel Mitchell, farm now owned by Benjamin Shellenbarger, Fayette township; Stuffel Man (Stophel Monce), in Greenwood township in 1768, and was the first collector; Robert Neilson, on Cedar Spring Ridge; James Patterson, Mexico; the Reeds, the adjoining tract up the river from Mifflintown; William White, adjoining James Patterson and above Mexico.

In 1764-6, the settlers were again driven out and in 1766 they returned. An assessment was taken in 1767 which contained names of settlers who lived in what is now Mifflin County, of whom were the Crisswells, Hollidays, Brattons, Carmichaels, Holts, Lyons, McKinstrys, Martins, Samuels, Stewarts, Swifts and Wakefields; and in what is now Huntingdon County was Dr. William Smith, Captain William Trent and John Gamble. These names disappear the next year, 1768, and re-appear in Derry, now Mifflin County, and in Barre, Huntingdon County.

The following are the names of land-owners in the tax-list of 1767, with number of acres, horses, cows and cleared land, including those published in the list of 1768 for Derry township, Mifflin County:

Armstrong, William 50a 7ac 2h 2c
Armstrong, John 100a 5ac    
Armstrong, Alexander 50a 3ac 2h 2c
Armstrong, James 50a 4ac 1h 1c
Barton, Rev. Thomas
patented
400a uns.    
Brown, John 100a 3ac 1h  
Carson, Adam 100a 10ac 3h 1c
Clark, William 50a 5ac 2h 1c
Coons, Adam 200a 10ac 3h 1c
Cheny, Ezekiel 100a 3ac 1h  
Crawford, Robert 50a 3ac   1c
Croghan, Charles 100a 1ac 3h 2c
Cowan, James 200a 30ac 2h 1c
Crampton, James 100a 5ac   1c
Cyle, James 100a 10ac 2h 2c
Cocks, Charles 3700a uns.    
Collender, Robert 600a uns.    
Chew, Benjamin 1000a uns.    
Duffield, George 1700a uns.    
Davis, William       1c
Douglas, Andrew 100a 10ac 2h 2c
Dickey, James 150a 5ac    
Evans, Thomas 100a 6ac 2h 1c
Gamble, John
1 negro
100a 7ac 1h 1c
Gibson, James 100a 3ac 2h 2c
Gallagher, James 100a 10ac 2h 2c
Hall, Thomas 50a 2ac 1h  
Hamilton, William 100a   2h  
Hamilton, Widow 100a 15ac 2h 3c
Hays, George 100a 15ac 2h 1c
Henderson, William 500a 30ac 2h 3c
Jones, Daniel 400a uns.    
Jones, Daniel 150a 20ac 2h 2c
Johnston, Edward 50a 5ac 2h 2c
Kearsley, Jonathan
patented
150a 3ac uns.  
Lackens, John
1 negro
100a 10ac 2h 2c
Lowrey, Alexander 300a uns.    
Lyon, William 50a uns.    
McClay, William
100a uns.
300a 20ac    
McCalester, Hugh 100a 40ac 2h 1c
McCalester, William
free
100a 4ac    
McCartney, John 100a 10ac 1h 1c
McCartney, William 100a 20ac 3h 1c
McCartney, John     2h 2c
McCormick, Hugh 100a 20ac 3h 2c
McDaniel, Duncan 100a 6ac 1h 1c
McDaniel, John 100a 3ac 1h  
McElhatton, William 100a 3ac 1h 1c
McKeaver, John 100a 5ac 2h 1c
McMullin 50a 3ac 1h 1c
Martin, William 100a 3ac 2h 2c
Minner, Isaac     1h 1c
Minner, Ezekiel     1h 2c
Mitchell, John     1h 1c
Mitchell, Samuel 100a 15ac 1h 2c
Mitcheltree, James 100a 6ac 2h 1c
Neilson, Robert 200a 3ac    
Purdy, James 100a   2h 1c
Patterson, Capt James
pat. 4 negroes,
1 grist-mill, 1 saw-mill
500a 15ac 3h 4c
Patterson, William
1 saw-mill
50a      
Peters, Rev. Richard 900a uns.    
Ross, William 200a 10ac 2h 2c
Reed, John 100a 108ac 2h 2c
Rodman, William 100a 15ac 3h 3c
Riddle, William 50a 5ac 1h 1c
Smith, Dr. William 1300a uns.    
Stephens, John 200a uns.    
Starns, Widow 200a 15ac 2h 2c
Stewart, William 50a 2ac 1h 1c
Sherran, William 100a 5ac 2h 1c
Sherran, Hugh 100a 2ac 1h 1c
Smith, John        
Buchanan, William 400a uns.    
Trent, Capt. William 600a uns.    
Wright, David 100a 5ac 2h 1c
Wright, Joseph 100a 10ac 2h 2c
Wharton & Boynton 600a uns.    
West, Francis
Cedar Springs
100a 5ac    
West, Francis
above ye narrows
100a 5ac    
West, Francis 100a      
Wallace, William
in Mr. Tea’s dist.
1800a uns.    
Wallace, Samuel
in Mr. Tea’s dist.
7200a uns.    


At the March term of court, 1767, James Purdy, living near now Jericho, was appointed constable, and also at the July term of court following.

At the July term, 1767, the boundaries of Fermanagh were described as follows:

“Beginning at the mouth Cockalumus Creek, up the North side of Juniata and to terminate at the middle of the Long Narrows; thence (along the mountain) to the heads of Cockalumus Creek; thence down the said Creek to the place of beginning.”

It will be noticed the territory embraced in the above comprises all the present townships of Fermanagh, Fayette, Walker, Delaware, Monroe, the north parts of Greenwood and Susquehanna townships, in Juniata County, and that part of Greenwood township, in Perry County, that lies east of the Juniata River and north of Cocalamus Creek, including the site of Millerstown.

Its territory remained unchanged until 1789, when Mifflin County was erected, and Fermanagh became one of the townships in that county, losing that part of the territory that now lies in Perry County which was attached to Greenwood township, in Cumberland County.

At June term, 1791, a petition was presented asking that the portion of Fermanagh east of a line running from the mouth of Delaware Run near Thompsontown, northwest to the Shade Mountain, be annexed to Greenwood township. The report of viewers was unconfirmed. The boundary line was not definitely run until November, 1795, when James Nelson was ordered to survey and locate the line.

This annexed all of Monroe and parts of Fayette, Delaware, Susquehanna and Greenwood to Greenwood township.

At the same term of court a petition from citizens of Milford was presented, asking that a strip of land “lying below Widow Bonner’s plantation and extending along the Juniata River to the Cumberland County line, be annexed to Fermanagh.” The veiwer’s report was confirmed, and the territory was annexed, which is now those parts of Walker and Delaware townships lying south of the Juniata River.

Walker township was erected from Fermanagh in 1823. Fayette township was formed from part of Fermanagh and Greenwood in March, 1834, since which time the area of Fermanagh has remained unchanged. Lost Creek passes through the township westerly, and enters the Juniata at Cuba Mills. The north, middle and south forks of this stream unite near Jericho on the eastern limit of the township.

The early settlers in the territory now Fermanagh were Alexander Lafferty, Thomas McCormick, James Purdy and James Sharon. These men were the first to settle in the limits of the present township, in 1755, an account of which will be found hereafter. The settlers were driven out several times, from 1763, and were much troubled by Indians as late as 1780.

TAXABLE INDUSTRIES.—The tax-lists of Fermanagh township from 1763 to 1831 show assessments on the following, in addition to lands and stock. Those that fell into Walker in 1823 are marked “W.” The line between Fermanagh and Greenwood, after 1791, ran through Thompsontown and McAlisterville:

GRIST-MILLS.
Aldricks, James 1799-1813
Anderson, Enoch 1786-88
Banks, James Jr. 1817-28
Brown, John 1794
Burns, Robert 1817-22
Byers, John 1791
Campbell, John 1807-13
Cookson, William 1790, ’91, ’95, 1802-3
Curran, Samuel 1786-93
Custer, Richard 1783
Gustin, Amos 1831
Horning, Elias 1803
Horning, Lewis 1804-31
Kepner, John, Sr. 1771-82
Lintner, Conrad 1796-1803
Myers, Christian 1822-31
Myers, Samuel 1802, 1820-21
Ogden, Isaac 1782-83
Patterson, George 1785-1809
Patterson, James 1768-71
Patterson, Widow 1772-84 (James)
Purdy, James 1770-79
Purdy, John 1780-93
Rodfrhong, Frederick 1805-7
Shade, George 1774
Shade, Sebastian 1778-89
Shupe, John 1787
Smith, John 1785-90
Sturgeon, Peter 1794-99
Thompson, Isaac 1782-83
Thompson, James and Samuel, W. 1814-31
Thompson, William 1785-1813; Thompsontown, 1809-13, Mexico.
Thompson, William and Robert 1814-31
Thompson, William and Robert, W. 1823-31
Wagoner, John 1795-1809
Whiteside, Thomas 1828-31
Woods, David 1810

FULLING-MILLS.
Anderson, Joseph 1787
Evans, Evan 1823-28
Haman, Andrew 1814-22
Matson, Joseph 1817-19
Patterson, George 1785-1809
Patterson, James 1782-91
Roberts, Lewis M 1827-31
Smith, William 1795-1802
Thompson, James and Samuel, W. 1814-31
Thompson, William 1809-13
Wiley, Samuel Jr. 1805-13

CARDING-MACHINES.
Adams, John & Jacob, W. 1826
Beale, John 1825
Custard, Samuel’s hiers, W. 1823
Horning, Elias 1826-28
Horning, Jacob 1824-25
Thompson, William (3) 1813
Wiley, Samuel, Jr. 1813

CLOVER-MILL.
Whiteside, Thomas 1813

OIL-MILL.
Kinzer, Jacob Sr. 1796, ’99, 1802

TILT-HAMMER.
Horning, Lewis 1809-19

STORES AND MERCHANTS.
Banks, Ephraim 1812-13
Bell, William 1811-12
Bryson, Samuel 1785
Christy, Jacob 1829
Cochran & Co 1811
Cooper, Robert 1797-99
Cooper & Davidson 1796
Cummings, Joseph 1824
Dealy, James 1808-11
Elder, John 1829-31
Gallagher, Robert 1821
Gallagher, Thomas H 1812-14
Gingrich, John 1830
Gustin, Amos 1820-24
Haman, John 1809
Heim, Samuel, W. 1829-30
Hoover, Frederick 1829
Irwin, George 1803-4
Jamison, John 1796
Knox, James 1796-1820
Knox, James & Gallagher 1813
Law, Benjamin 1802-24
Law, James 1824
Lintner, Conrad 1797
Martin, William 1796
Milnor, George A, W. 1828-29
Monahan, Michael 1795
Moore & Rowan 1799
McAlister, Hugh Jr. 1817-21
McCormick, David 1815
McCormick, George 1793
McDonald, Bernard 1808
McDougal, Robert 1797
McElroy, Thomas 1782
Ramsey, Manassa 1802-3
Reynolds, David 1804
Reynolds, David & Levi 1803
Rice, Samuel, W. 1831
Rowan, Stuart 1799
Taylor, James 1812-13
Thompson, James & Samuel 1814-23
Thompson, James, W. 1825-30
Thompson, Robert, W. 1811-28
Thompson, Samuel 1822
Thompson, William 1801-13; (2) 1812
Thompson William & Robert, W. 1814-27
Turner, William & John 1817-19
Wallace, John, W. 1828-30
Watson, John 1796
Weimer, John 1824
Wilson, Hugh 1829
Wilson, Hugh & Co 1830
Wood, John 1826
Zeigler, Jacob 1814-20
Zeigler, Jacob & Co 1811

DISTILLERIES.
Alexander, James 1793-94
Andrews, Robert 1799-1800
Aitkins, James 1795
Banks, James Jr. 1790-96
Beale, Peter 1794-95
Beale, Philip 1793-95
Beavis, Issacher 1782-88
Bohr, Michael, W. 1823-25
Brooks, James 1793-94
Bryson, Samuel 1791-96
Burrows, Philip 1805-10
Cliftman, Yost 1811-13
Cookson, Joseph 1783
Cunningham, William 1786-96
Curran, Samuel 1780
Curran, William 1826-28
Davis, Tristram 1782
Doerst, Zachariah, W. 1808-12
Elder, John 1828
Finlay, John 1793
Fry, Gabriel 1779-83
Graybill, Harman, W. 1826, ‘27
Graybill, Peter, W. 1828-30
Greenwalt, Lewis 1829
Gustin, Amos 1824-28
Hart, Epenetus 1786-88
Holman, John & Michael 1805-7
Horning, Elias 1811-28
Horning, Jacob 1824-25
Huntsbarger, Peter 1820
Irwin, Christopher 1796, 1802-3
Irwin, Gawen 1797
Lapp, David 1818
Laughbaugh, Lewis 1802-3
Lauver, John 1805
Linsey, Jeremiah 1804
Linter, Conrad 1805-7
Miller, David 1781-83
Miller, John 1816-18
Mitcheltree, James 1780-83
Monahan, James 1809, ‘11
Mullin, Joseph 1782, ‘83
McCay, William 1826
McCafferty, Charles 1800
McClure, John 1783-85
McCormick, Hugh 1789-96
McCormick, Robert 1780
McLaughlin, John 1800
Neilson, Robert 1780-87
Ort, Conrad 1823-28
Patterson, James (2) 1791
Riddle, John Sr. 1802-10
Shade, Sebastian 1783
Shardel, Daniel 1811-13
Smalley, Benjamin 1780-81
Stretch, William 1785-88
Swagerty, Frederick 1780
Thompson, William (2) 1809-13
Thompson, William & Robert, W. 1814, 1823-31
Walker, David 1788-94 (2), 1795-96
Warren, Walter 1822-24
Watson, John 1793-1807; (2) 1794-96
Watt, Hugh (2) 1808-11
White, John 1781-83
Wright, John 1812-14
Wright, John Jr. 1812
Yocum, Charles 1809
Yocum, John (2) 1809, ’10; (1) 1811-22
Zook, Jacob 1811
Zook John Sr. (2) 1810
Zook, John 1811-13

SAW-MILLS.
Adams, John and Jacob, W. 1816-21
Anderson, John 1817-31
Anderson, Joseph 1787
Banks, James Jr. 1817-28
Boady, Isaac 1820-25
Brown, John 1794
Byers, Martin 1808-19
Curran, William 1825-31
Curran, Widow or Samuel’s heirs 1820
Custard, Richard 1783
Custard, Samuel, W. 1820-23
George, Stephen 1826-28
Gustin, Amos 1831
Hamilton, John 1776-93
Haughawout, John 1830-31
Henderson, James 1796-99
Henderson, John Jr. 1796-1803
Hoffman, Adam 1830
Horning, Elias 1805-28
Horning, Jacob 1830-31
Jordan, David 1795, ’96, ‘99
Jordan, Thomas 1779-91
Kepner, John Sr. 1771-82
Lapp, David and Hunsberger 1813
Lintner, Conrad 1796-1803
Lukens, Abraham Sr. 1776-99
Lukens, Abraham Jr. 1796-1812
Martin, John 1830
Mathers, Joseph 1816-22
Moore, John, W. 1817-28
Moore, Robert and William, W. 1829-31
Myers, Christian 1822-31
Myers, John 1805-19
Myers, Samuel 1820
McElroy, Hugh 1811-19
McMeen, Joseph, W. 1823-26
McMeen, Robert 1820-22
Ogden, Isaac 1782-88
Patterson, George 1785-1809
Patterson, James 1781-91
Patterson, William 1767-73
Pennebaker, William 1811-30
Purdy, James 1776-78
Riddle, John Sr. 1818-22
Riddle, John and Samuel, W. 1823-24
Rodfrhong, Frederick 1805-7
Shade, Sebastian 1778-89
Shupe, John 1787
Smalley, Lewis 1794-95
Smith, John 1785-90
Smith, William 1803
Thompson, Isaac 1781-83
Thompson, James and Samuel, W. 1817-31
Thompson, John, W. 1817-24
Thompson, Robert 1785-86
Thompson, William 1790-1813
Thompson, William & Robert 1814-22
Thompson, William & Robert, W. 1823-31
Vines, Samuel 1814
Wagoner, John 1795-97
Watson, John 1793-1809
Walker, David, W. 1827-28
Whiteside, Thomas 1828-31
Woods, David 1810
Wright, Azariah 1811-22
Yost, Isaac 1796-1820

CUTLER-SHOPS.
Horning, Lewis 1806-29
Turner, Isaac, cutler 1816-20

TANNERIES AND TANNERS.
Anderson, Alexander 1812
Carnahan, William 1782
Coyle, William, W. 1823
Doty, Amos 1802, ’03, ’17, ‘26
Doty, William 1820-25
Elder, David 1820-31
Hardy, Hugh 1817
Hardy, John Jr. 1791-94
Heim, Samuel, W. 1828
Hoffman, John 1830
Hurl, John 1826-28
Jackson, Alexander 1795-96
Jacobs, Jesse 1811-31
Johnson, Thomas 1811
Jordan, Francis, W. 1812-31
Magill, William 1800-06
Moore, John 1794, 1810, ‘18
Moore, Robert 1822
Moore, Robert & William, W. 1829-31
McAlister, Hugh Jr. 1823-28
McAlister, Hugh Jr. 1830-31
McElroy, Alexander 1809
Neiman, John 1824
North, John 1825
Robison, John 1796
Rumbaugh, Matthias, W. 1811-25
Sanderson, Alexander 1811-19
Sanderson, James 1808-9
Sanderson, William 1811
Walker, Samuel 1804
Wright, Jacob 1796-1822
Wright, John 1823-31

INNS OR TAVERNS.
Aitkins, James 1807-12
Banks, Ephraim 1817
Beale, John 1831
Blair, John, W. 1823-31
Blair, Swan 1820
Blair, John S., W. 1825-31
Burr, Henry H. 1825
Cottle, Mary 1814
Davidson, David 1796, 1808-11
Davidson, John 1809
Dougherty, Daniel 1828-29
Dougherty, John 1830
Eyer, Jacob 1823-31
Fetterman, Joseph 1811, ’12, ‘20
Foncannon, Michael 1811-12
Freeborn, John B. 1820
Gallagher, Thomas 1796-97
Gannon, John 1829
Horrell, Christopher 1808
Jackson, Alexander 1796
Jamison, John & Gallaher 1826
Johnson, Adam, W. 1826-31
Jordan, David 1796
Kinsloe, Francis 1822-27
Lauver, Michael Sr. 1826
Linsey, Jeremiah 1808
Love, William 1826, ‘28
Magill, Sarah 1828
Miller, John 1815
Murphy, Francis 1828
McAlister, Hugh Jr. 1830
McAlister, John E. Jr. 1829-30
McCrum, Joseph 1820-25
McDonald, James 1814
Neilson, Robert 1796
Osburn, Thomas 1829-30
Patton, Robert 1815
Porter, James 1831
Ramsey, John 1826-27
Reynolds, David 1808
Rodeback, Daniel 1814
Rowland, Thomas 1827
Sanderson, James 1808
Showers, Adam J. 1826
Shull, Henry 1829
Spangler, Henry & Martha, W. 1826-31
Stouffer, John, W. 1820-31
Walker, John 1814-15
Watson, John 1796
Wertz, Adam 1826-31
Wise, Jacob Sr. 1820, ‘22
Zeigler, Jacob 1820, ‘22

FERRY.
Abraham, Noah heirs 1818-31
Harris, William 1796, 1802-3
Jordan, David 1792
Kreider, Tobias Sr. 1816
Miller, David, W. 1817-31

SHAD FISHERY.
Stuart, Widow William 1799

In 1793 John Brown had added to his grist-mill a saw-mill; Thomas Henry owned a tanyard. George Patterson, near Mexico, in 1794, near his grist and saw-mill, built a fulling-mill. Peter Sturgeon owned the Purdy grist-mill.

In 1815 Daniel Kreider and Christian Acker were coverlet weavers, and dissolved partnership January 1, 1816. Acker continued the business.

In 1813 John Riddle had a wagon-shop and Samuel Belford a blacksmith-shop between Mifflintown and Mexico. James Riddle was a wagon-maker in 1790. The family had formerly lived in the Narrows.

Jesse Jacobs in 1813 was a tanner and continued after 1824.

EARLY SETTLERS.—One of the early warrantees to land in Fermanagh was James Sharon, who received his warrant of two hundred and sixty-eight acres of land on the north fork of Lost Creek, September 8, 1755. He conveyed all of this tract to his son Hugh, November 24, 1784. He also took up other tracts of land, one of which was on an order of survey No. 846, dated August 20, 1766. These lands came to his sons, Hugh and William Sharon; they were adjoining lands of John Hamilton, Samuel Bryson, Christian and Conrad Lintner, James Banks, Peter Beale and George Moore. On the 22d of March, 1788, William and Hugh sold the last tract to James Banks, except a moiety to William Sharon, and years later, when James Banks presented his application for a patent, he was informed his title was not good, and May 30, 1793, he conveyed this moiety, four acres in full, to William Sharon and received his patent.

On the 28th of December, 1785, Hugh Sharon and Abraham Sheridan took out a warrant for one hundred and forty-three acres. This was later patented as Hugh Sharon’s “New Survey.” Hugh Sharon sold it to John McClure November 19, 1793, and later it was owned by David Jordan. Hugh Sharon also sold two hundred acres of land June 28, 1793, to Thomas Sturgeon, of Middle Paxtang, Dauphin County. William Sharon sold, April 28, 1791, one hundred and fifty-one acres of land to John Dunlap and William Thompson, and August 22, 1794, one hundred and fifty-two acres to William Thompson, and soon after sixteen acres to William Banks, and June 17, 1793, a tract to Peter Sturgeon, on which there was a grist-mill. These lands are all on Lost Creek, between Jericho and Cuba Mills and vicinity.

It was at the house of William Sharon the men of this locality met in 1776 when the cavalry company that went out under Captain John Hamilton was raised. John Hamilton was chairman of the meeting and Hugh McAlister was the first to enlist.

It was also at the house of William Sharon the frontiersmen met in 1780. He lived near the line of Fayette and Fermanagh townships, and near the land of Andrew Bashore. His daughter Jane was the mother of Dr. James Frow. The lands of this once prominent family were sold.

James Purdy was one of the early settlers to locate land in this settlement, and came about the same time as Captain James Patterson. His first tract of land was located at Jericho September 6, 1755. He warranted lands in 1762, and later acquired other lands by purchase. The tract warranted in 1762 he sold, January 26, 1791, to John Elliot. He bought a tract of one hundred acres of Francis West (warranted July 9, 1755), which he sold to James Smith August 21, 1777. He also purchased, November 5, 1799, a tract of land on Lost Creek Ridge, which Denman Beavis took up on order of survey No. 5117, July 20, 1768, and sold to his son Issachar Beavis.

John Purdy, the oldest son of James, obtained a tract of land on an order of survey No. 4461, October 6, 1767, which later he sold to John Watson, who patented it January 4, 1786. John Purdy also warranted a tract of land January 20, 1787, and also purchased a tract of Henry Drinker, a merchant of Philadelphia. He sold part of this last tract February 18, 1791, to Michael McCrum, and on June 17, 1793, to Peter Sturgeon, of Paxton township, one hundred and one acres, on which he had erected a grist-mill. A song, written over ninety years ago, entitled “General Arthur St. Clair’s Defeat,” November 4, 1791, contains many allusions to participators in the battle. The twenty-ninth and thirtieth verses allude to Hugh and William Purdy, sons of James Purdy, who were killed in that battle. The author of the poem was Major Eli Lewis, founder of the town of Lewisberry, York county, Pa., publisher of the first paper ever printed at Harrisburg, and father of Ellis Lewis, late judge of Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

The Purdys and young Anderson,
Whose names should be revered,
They fought like brave heroes,
But death was their reward.

Full twenty paces in the front
Of their men they did go;
The enemy soon spied them out,
Which proved their overthrow.


Young Anderson, here mentioned, was of this county—whether of the family who then lived near Jericho or near Waterford is not known.

John Purdy purchased, November 2, 1792, four hundred and sixty-five acres of land of William Buchanan and John Smith, merchants, of Philadelphia, which they warranted April 10, 1755; they also had warranted, adjoining, four hundred and ninety-eight acres on February 3, 1755.

The John Purdy Mill, that, in 1793 passed to Peter Sturgeon, came again to the Purdys, and in 1829 was sold to Amos Gustine, who erected a larger mill. The ruins of the old mill, now a shapeless pile of stone, are still to be seen north-east of the Jericho dam. The present mill is now owned by the Cowenhovers.

William Purdy, a son of James, and brother of John, took out a warrant for land in the vicinity of his brother December 30, 1785.

The land the Purdys took up and purchased has all passed to others long since.

James Purdy built a grist-mill upon his farm in 1770, which he continued until 1779, when it would appear to be continued by John Purdy, as he was assessed upon a grist-mill from 1780 to 1793, at which time he sold to Peter Sturgeon a tract of land containing a grist-mill.

The children of James Purdy were John, William, Hugh and Robert, Elizabeth and Jane. John married Nancy, a daughter of Thomas Wilson. Of their children, Mary married David Reynolds; Martha became the wife of Robert Nelson and moved to Ohio, where Caroline, a daughter, became the wife of Governor John Brough, and Margaret, the wife of Dr. James McConnell.

Elizabeth, a daughter of John, married a Huston and moved West; Nancy married a Mayberry and settled in Tennessee. Sally resided in the neighborhood of the old homestead and lived to an advanced age, and died a few years since. She was the last of the family. William and Hugh, sons of James, were killed at St. Clair’s defeat in 1791. Robert was an officer in the War of 1812.

William Huston, March 1, 1755, soon after the New Purchase was open for settlement, took up a tract of land containing one hundred and eighty acres of land, and embracing Cedar Spring Ridge, which, before 1763, he sold to Robert Nelson, who came to this country from Derry County, Ireland, about 1750, and settled first near Anderson’s Ferry, on the Susquehanna. He purchased the tract of William, Huston, married and settled upon the place. It was adjoining the glebe lands of the Cedar Spring congregation, of which he and his family were members. On February 10, 1768, he obtained, on order of survey, one hundred and sixty-four acres of land adjoining. His wife, Martha, died July 26, 1794, about sixty-three years of age, and was buried in Cedar Spring grave-yard. He resided in the neighborhood until about 1800, when he removed with his sons to Ohio, where they settled upon lands upon which the city of Columbus is partly built. He died at Bowling Green, Ky., about 1804-5, aged eighty-five years, when on a visit to his son John.

The house of Robert Nelson, during the Revolution and the troublous times that preceded and followed it, was a rendezvous for all patriotic men in this section. He raised money to pay the soldiers from his private resources. This devotion to the cause and his great zeal, placed him in great financial straits, that eventually caused the sale of the Cedar Springs farm. His sons and friends endeavored to save it, but the burden was too great, and it was finally sold. The first sale was March, 1790, to Samuel E. Greer, and October 1, 1792, to William Moore, of Carlisle. It was between 1790 and 1799 efforts were made to retain the farm. On September 11, 1809, the heirs of William Moore sold the property to Eber Benthall, who came to the place from Philadelphia, and about whose life there was much mystery. He settled upon the farm with his wife, Lucinda, who was a woman of much culture. She died January 27, 1812, aged thirty-seven years. He sold the farm, March 24th following, to Christian Stauffer, whose heirs still own it.

The children of Robert and Martha Nelson were David, Andrew, James P., John, Nancy, Mary and Catharine. David and Andrew, the eldest sons, were in the Revolutionary army, and were prominent in the civil affairs of this region of the country. Andrew was sheriff of Mifflin County from 1796 to 1798, and prominent in 1801 in the endeavor to remove the county-seat to Mifflintown. He later removed to Columbus, where David had preceded him. James P. was a surveyor and after 1800 moved to Moundsville, W. Va., where he died. His sister Nancy resided with him. John emigrated to Bowling Green, Ky., and settled there. Mary became the wife of David Allen, and settled near the homestead; they are both buried in the Cedar Spring grave-yard. Two daughters, Martha and Mary, both married a Thompson and settled in the vicinity. David Allen was a son of David Allen, who warranted three hundred acres in the township February 3, 1755.

Catharine Nelson married James Banks, the son of James Banks, and settled on part of the Banks homestead. After 1815, for several years, they resided at the mills now known as Oakland. It later passed to Dr. Thomas Whiteside.

Andrew Douglas settled on Lost Creek, near the Purdys’ land, and was wounded in the Kittanning expedition of 1756. His name appears in the first assessment of 1763. He died soon after 1790.

Azariah Reed, Sr., Azariah Reed, Jr., and John Reed are each assessed upon one hundred acres in 1763. The land was adjoining the Alexander Lafferty tract (now Mifflintown), and in 1767 John Reed only appears. He is still there, in 1779, as a resident. Adam Reed, at this time, has one hundred acres, and is a resident. Moses Reed warranted one hundred acres August 4, 1767, and later sold it to John Reed. This land passed, respectively to --- Henry, Jacob Wright, Robert C. Gallagher, John Schweier, and is now, in part, owned by his son, B. F. Schweier.

March 7, 1755, a warrant was issued from the Land Office to Thomas McCormick, an Irishman, for a tract of land, which is now known as Horningtown. It is said he ascended the Juniata to the mouth of Horning’s Run, where he found quite an Indian settlement, with about twenty acres of land cleared. McCormick concluded to locate his warrant near this place. The chief of the Indians, while receiving him in a friendly manner, yet refused to let the surveyor who accompanied him, run the line in that place until McCormick presented him with a bull’s-eye watch he carried. The tract surveyed was three hundred and eleven acres, sixty perches, and was returned as “Armagh.” McCormick, like the other settlers of that time, did not remain long upon his new purchase, and it is doubtful if he ever returned, as July 30, 1766, he conveyed the property to his brother, Hugh McCormick, who immediately took possession, and Thomas was not afterwards known as a settler in these parts. Hugh remained upon “Armagh” for thirty-two years, and was a prominent man in the Presbyterian Church and in all progressive movements. In 1788 he erected the two-story stone dwelling-house now occupied by Enoch Horning. He was a brother of William McCormick, who settled on the other side of the river.

On the 18th of October, 1798, he sold “Armagh” to Elias Horning, a native of Montgomery County, whose father, John Horning, was a German, who had purchased a large tract of land in Montgomery and Bucks Counties. He had thirteen children, who, with one exception, settled on their father’s land. The father lived to the age of one hundred and twenty years. Elias married there, and lived on the homestead farm, in Bucks County, until after the death of his father. After receiving the share of his father’s estate, he migrated to the Juniata River, and purchased the property mentioned above and settled upon it.

It is tradition that McCormick, upon his first visit to the place, in 1755, found an Irishman, by the name of John Hardy, who had a tannery of six vats here at that time.

This tradition is not true, as the John Hardy here mentioned was born in Milford township, on the farm now owned by William Guss.

The tradition has been published several times and bears evidence of its untruthfulness in its statements, as facts that occurred in 1763—67, and on to 1783, all appear in the story as of one time. A tannery was upon the Horning place, which was owned and operated by Hugh McCormick, with John Davis as the manager, and was abandoned soon after 1790. The vats of this tannery fell in, and years after, when the property was transferred to Elias Horning considerable leather, well tanned, was found in the vats. Tat part of the farm is now owned by Henry A. Stambaugh. Elias Horning lived upon the “Armagh” tract until his death, at the age of sixty-five. His eldest son, Jacob, the father of Enoch, died at eighty-three years, and settled on the homestead farm. In 1810 the distillery was built by Elias Horning, by whom the bond was given. Jacob was the distiller and ran it until 1828. The tax in 1818 was $193.32. The greater portion of the liquor was shipped on arks and flats down the river to Columbia. Elias Horning planted, in 1810 or 1811, a peach orchard of six thousand trees, the fruit of which was mostly made into liquor. The Horning farm, upon the death of Elias, was divided among four sons,--Jacob, Joseph, William and Elias, the latter having the mansion-house tract. Upon his death the heirs sold it to Jacob and Enoch, and upon the death of the latter it passed to Enoch, who now owns it, as well as the portion that came to his father, Jacob. Joseph’s farm passed to Jacob Ulsh, whose sons, Simon and William, now own it.

David Jordan, in 1787, purchased of John McClure, one hundred and fifty acres of land in the Narrows, on the river, at which place he built a tavern, and kept it until 1798, when he traded with Michael Foncannon, who had for several years kept tavern at Lewistown. In 1793 Jordan established a ferry across the river at the place. In 1808, when the stage-coaches first began to run past the place, it became known as the “Seven-Mile Tavern.” David Jordan, in 1795, married for his second wife, Isabella, the widow of Arthur Buchanan, no whose farm Lewistown was laid out. They lived there until they went to Lewistown, where he kept the tavern on the Diamond, on the site now occupied by Pratt’s grocery. Only a short time since, on the site of the old tavern, a water-pipe was uncovered, which brought the water down from the mountain springs, and it was found to deliver three gallons to the minute. Michael Foncannon kept the tavern several years after 1800. It afterwards came into the possession of Michael M. Monaghan, and during the building of the canal, in 1829 and 1830, it passed to Daniel Brought.

The first person by the name of Wiley to locate in the township was Joseph who was here from 1771-1774. Thomas was resident here, not far from Jericho, from 1774 to 1805; William, a drover, from 1774 to 1813; Samuel, Sr., from 1774 to 1805; Samuel, Jr., from 1780. The latter was running a fulling-mill from 1805 to 1813, and carding-machine from 1801 to 1813. In the latter year the name disappears from the rolls.

The tract upon which James Aitken later settled was warranted by Robert McCormick, a brother of Thomas, Hugh and William. He sold it to James Aitken before 1790, as in that year he was in possession of one hundred and fifty acres of land at the foot of the Narrows, where he opened a tavern at the sign of the “Three Candlesticks.” The farm was later enlarged to three hundred and six acres and came to Mary Aitken, his wife. Captain Jonathan W. Aitken, a son, kept the tavern for several years and moved to Mifflintown, where he kept tavern and also a store. The property, in 1834, was left by will to Jonathan W., William and Ellen Aitken, and sold, September 2, 1839, to David McClure, and is not owned by F. Espenshade, of Mifflintown.

John Watson purchased one hundred and fifty-five acres in 1781, and settled upon it, and in 1785 warranted one hundred and forty-eight acres of land at the mouth of Lost Creek, where in 1794, he built a grist-mill and a saw-mill. About 1793 he moved to Mifflintown and opened a tavern, continuing the mills until 1809. They have passed through many hands, and are now known as the Cuba Mills. Dr. William Watson, a son of John Watson, practiced medicine a short time in Lewistown and moved to Bedford Springs, where his son is now living. The mill property was afterwards owned by William and Robert Thompson, of Thompsontown, and later by Jacob Forrey. The mill property is now owned by Joseph Musser & Bro., and the Mansion House and most of the farm by Noah A. Elder.

William Riddle was assessed from 1767. James, probably a brother, settled below Mexico in 1777. They were prominent in the Indian troubles, and the family are still in the county.

Christian Lintner was the ancestor of the family of that name, who settled on the forks of Lost Creek, and his name appears first in 1773. He lived near the lands of the Sharons and Purdys. He was the father of Conrad, Christopher, Peter and John, and gradually came into possession of about six hundred acres of land, which were given to his sons. Conrad was a miller, a merchant and also had a distillery from 1787 to 1805. The others settled near there until about 1805, when they moved to the West. Elizabeth, the daughter of Christian, became the wife of Andrew Banks; another daughter became the wife of Jacob Adams, who died in 1805.

The family of Sturgeon occupied a brief, but important, space in the early history of the township. Thomas and Margaret Corbett Sturgeon were married July 16, 1750, and settled above what is now Harrisburg, Dauphin County, where he built a mill at the mouth of Stony Creek. They had fifteen children, of whom Peter was the fourth. He was in the Revolutionary War. In 1793 Thomas Sturgeon, his wife and three sons—Peter (with his family), John and Moses—and daughters came to Lost Creek Valley, and on the 17th of June, in that year, Peter purchased of John Purdy one hundred and one acres of land, including the Purdy grist-mill. Thomas, the father, purchased two hundred acres of Hugh Sharon, June 18th the same year. Moses, on the 4th of December, 1800, named Anna, a daughter of George McCullough, of Tuscarora Valley. In 1817 Moses Sturgeon and his family moved to near Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, in Shelby County, having purchased a large tract of land there in 1812, where he lived and died, and his family still own the homestead. Peter Sturgeon, after the death, of his father in 1813, emigrated with his family to Ohio and settled near Lancaster, in that State. John, who also had settled in Lost Creek, and had purchased land near his father and brother at a later date, removed to near Somerset about 1817, with his brother Moses.

Thomas, the father, died in 1813, and was buried in the old Presbyterian grave-yard and his wife, Margaret, died in 1817, and one slab marks their resting-place. In this year the remainder of the family emigrated to Ohio. The lands of Thomas and Peter Sturgeon were sold to Adam Johnston, John and William Rannels and others.

William Henderson is on the list of 1763 as owning two hundred acres of land, and in 1767 is assessed on five hundred acres, thirty acres cleared, two horses and three cows; in 1770 on one hundred and ninety acres, and James Henderson on one hundred and fifty acres; in 1773, William on three hundred and James on two hundred acres; in 1776, William on one hundred acres, James on seventy acres and John on one hundred and twenty acres, and each with horses, cows and John on fifty acres and one horse; in 1780 William has four hundred acres, John (cooper) two hundred, James ninety-three and John, Sr., thirty acres; in 1789 John (cooper) on three hundred, William on one hundred and John, on Lost Creek, two hundred acres. John was in possession of the property until 1803. This farm now belongs to Joseph Rothrock.

Jacob Kauffman settled in the township in 1795, on land now owned by Joseph Rothrock. He became the owner of a large tract lying between Happy Hollow school-house and the Burd tract, adjoining his original purchase. He died in October, 1824, aged seventy-three years. His children were Abraham, who died on the home farm in November, 1825, aged fifty-one years; Isaac, who settled in Tuscarora Valley and died in July, 1833, aged eighty-one years; John emigrated to Ohio and died in 1864, aged seventy two years; Daniel also moved to Ohio and died in 1864, aged seventy-four; Jonathan located in Walker township, near the Adams farms, and died in April, 1869, aged seventy years; Catharine married Michael Shirk and settled above the home farm, and died in February, 1869, aged eighty years; Philip settled in Walker township, on the turnpike, and died in 1874, aged seventy-one years; Elizabeth married Jacob Moist, and died in July, 1874, aged ninety-one years; Sarah, the youngest daughter, married William Rannals and settled on the Rannals farm. Their daughter Hettie became the wife of Adam Weidman and mother of Dr. J. C. Weidman, of McAlisterville. The home farm, of one hundred and eighty-five acres, passed to John Rothrock in 1827, and is now owned by Joseph, his son. There is upon the farm a burial-place, set apart by Jacob Kauffman, in which he was the first one buried. Others of the family are buried there.

John Elliot purchased a part of the Purdy lands, near Jericho, of James Purdy, January 26, 1791, and lived and died upon it. His daughter Cahtarine, in 1795, married Hugh McAlister, father of Hugh T. McAlister. A son John settled upon the farm and lived to an advanced age; sold it to Amos Gustine and moved to Ohio.

He had two sons, Edward and Huston. The former died in 1796, at the age of twenty-six; the latter in 1797, aged thirteen years. They are all buried in the old Cedar Spring burial-ground.

The first of the name Cunningham who appears on the tax-roll of the township is Charles, who is assessed in 1770 on one hundred acres, one horse, one cow and one sheep; in 1772 Arthur appears assessed on fifty acres, a horse and cow and each with ten acres cleared. In 1779 Charles has one hundred and fifty acres, William two hundred and ten and John owns two horses and no land. William lived upon his farm until his death, in 1796, and his widow kept the farm until 1808. The family have been quite numerous and are still represented in the county. Dr. Michael Cunningham was practicing in the township in 1808-9.

An assessment roll of Fermanagh township gives Enoch Anderson a grist-mill in 1786; Joseph, a saw-mill and fulling-mill from 1787, and 1792 to 1793; John, a saw-mill from 1817.

The Andersons lived in the neighborhood of the Sharons, Purdys and Banks. The lands passed to James Cunningham and Hon. David Christy, are now owned by Michael Bashore and John Byler.

In January, 1793, Peter, John, Philip, George, and Adam Darr each took out warrants for four hundred acres of land on the Macedonia Mountain. No improvement of any consequence occurred until about 1843, when Samuel Hopper and John Hamilton erected a saw-mill on Macedoina Run. The power was a Barker wheel with one hundred feet fall. At this mill was sawed the mud-sills which were laid through the Narrows when the Pennsylvania Railroad was built. The mill has long since disappeared and no improvement of consequence is on the mountain. It is in large part owned by Robert McMeen.

There were many other families, who were residents in this territory before 1800, of whom much might be said, but it is impossible to mention all, and it has been the intention to mention the most prominent.

SCHOOLS.—One of the earliest school-houses in the township was built about 1800 on the Elias Horning property. A log house was built about 1810, on the line of Samuel Thomas’ and Howe’s farm. It was built by subscriptions of the neighbors, and was called Union school-house. Among the early teachers were William McCoy, James Cummings, James Mathers and John Purdy, who taught the last school there about 1820. Dr. Cunningham, about 1810, taught school in a log house in Happy Hollow. In an altercation with one of his pupils one of his eyes was gouged out and he did not remain long after this occurrence. Andrew Banks taught in the house 1815-16. John Knox and William Banks were teachers about 1820.

The Pine Grove school-house was built of stone, by the neighbors, each contributing work or material, about 1815. James Cummings, Charles B. Meldrum and Jacob A. Christy were early teachers. It was used many years as a preaching place for the Methodists, until the church was built.

At Big Run a school was taught by James Butler, Thomas Henderson and Samuel Crawford.

In 1838 the directors of the township, under the school law, established six schools, as follows:
No. 1. Mifflintown, two schools.
No. 2. Near Judge Daniel Christy.
No. 3. On Big Run, near Thomas McCurdy.
No. 4. Near John Horning.
No. 5. Adolphus Reynolds.
No. 6. Near J. Renno’s.

In the summer of 1873 a brick school-house, twenty-eight by thirty-six, was built near Cuba Mills at a cost of one thousand eight hundred dollars.

The old house and lot were sold at Hornington in the spring of 1880, and the present brick house, twenty-four by forty, was erected.

The school-houses in the township are at present known as Cuba Mills, Arch Rock, (formerly Hornington), Happy Hollow, Big Run, Renno and Slim Valley—at which two hundred and eighty-five pupils attend.

PINE GROVE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.—In the vicinity of what is now Jericho, over half a century ago, were several families inclined toward the faith of the Methodists, of whom were Samuel Reynolds, Henry G. Hesser, Joseph Cummings, Thomas Shorthill. Services were held by itinerant ministers in the old stone school house for several years, and about 1828 a stone church edifice was built. Among the early preachers were Henry G. Fearing, Wesley Howe, --- Thomas and --- Tannehill. The station was under the charge of the Baltimore Conference for many years, and later under the Pennsylvania Conference. It is still on the circuit and in charge with Thompsontown, Salem and Pfoutz Valley. The old church was entirely remodeled in 1857, and repaired in 1858, and re-dedicated September 22d in that year.









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